Aces Beat Wranglers 5-1, Crowned National Conference Champions
The Las Vegas Wranglers (8-10) were defeated by the Alaska Aces (12-2) 5-1 in Game 4 of the National Conference Finals in front of 3,723 fans at the Orleans Arena on Thursday night. With the win, the Aces advance to the Kelly Cup Finals for the second time in four years. Alaska goalie J.P. Lamoureux made 25 saves in his 12th win of the postseason. Alaska forwards Lance Galbraith, Matt Stefanishion, Colin Hemingway, Luke Erikson, and Alexandre Imbeault each scored for the Aces. Wranglers’ goalie Glenn Fisher stopped 25 of 30 shots in the loss. Las Vegas forward Mike Hamilton scored the lone Wranglers goal.
Alaska opened the scoring 15:01 into the first period with a goal from forward Lance Galbraith. Galbraith put in a wrap-around goal for his seventh tally of the playoffs and a 1-0 Alaska lead. Aces forward Matt Stefanishion scored on the power play at 17:27 to increase the lead to 2-0. Stefanishion ripped a one-timer past Wranglers goalie Glenn Fisher for his third goal of the playoffs.
Just 35 seconds into the second period, Alaska forward Colin Hemingway put the Aces up 3-0. Forwards Cam Keith and Josh Soares set up Hemingway’s seventh goal of the playoffs. The Aces struck again with a power-play goal from forward Luke Erikson. Erikson let off a wrist shot at 11:10 for the 4-0 Alaska lead.
In the third period, the Wranglers chipped into the score with a shorthanded goal from forward Mike Hamilton. Hamilton tallied his third goal of the playoffs to cut the score to 4-1 at 3:54 of the third period. Just over two minutes later, Alaska forward Alexandre Imbeault extended the Aces lead to 5-1. Imbeault tallied on the power play at 5:55 for his fifth goal of the playoffs.
National Conference Finals
Las Vegas vs. Alaska
Game 1: Las Vegas 0 at Alaska 2 F
Game 2: Las Vegas 1 at Alaska 4 F
Game 3: Alaska 3 at Las Vegas 1 F
Game 4: Alaska 5 at Las Vegas 1 F (AK wins series 4-0)
2009-10 season seat packages are on sale now at (702) 471-PUCK. The Wranglers play all 36 regular season home games at the Orleans Arena, located at the Orleans Hotel and Casino at 4500 W. Tropicana Avenue. Individual game tickets are on sale now at (702) 284-7777.
